Electric switch



P. H. CHASE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1916.

1,352,401. I PatentedSept.7,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- P. H. CHASE.

"ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4 FIG-.7.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

' P. H. CHASE.

ELECTRIC swl Qli- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1916.

Patented Sept. 7,1920.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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NW N A N x W mm m \u m warren sTaTEs PATENT OFFHCE.

PHILIP H. CHASE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP H. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, and residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Electric Switch, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to electric switches, and with regard to certain more specific features, to safety devices for use in connection with manually operated disconnecting switches for high-voltage circuits. The present invention is an improvement on the inventions set forth in my co-pending applications for electric switch, Serial Nos. 80,923 and 81,415, filed February 28, 1916, and March 1, 1916, respectively.

Among the objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a practical and effective switch in which the operator cannot remove the operating hook from the switch blade at certain times during the cycle of operation of the switch; the provision of a simple and inexpensive safety device to prevent improper manipulation of a switch in the hands of an inefficient or careless operator; the provision of improved apparatus of the above type of reliable action and durable under conditions of use; and the provision of a switch in which the protective features are effective automatically and the danger of improper handling is reduced to a minimum. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which are to be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure l is a top plan view of a switch;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the action of the locking device when the operator attempts to close the switch without inserting the hook into the aperture;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the operation of the locking device when the switch is being closed properly;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar'to Fig. 4, of a modification of the switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

1916. Serial No. 101,109.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig.2, of another modification;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2, of a modification in which the pivoted latch member swings clockwise, instead of counter- 1 clockwise, into unlocking position;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2, I

showing said structure applied to a singlepole, double-throw switch;

Fig. 12 illustrates a preferred form of hook.

In considering the relation of this invention to the prior art, it may be noted that for some time past the users of manually operated switches, especially on high-voltage circuits, have encountered trouble through the failure of the operators to close the switches completely, or to open them far enough to break any are that might form. Again, there has been need for locking devices of the type illustrated herein and in my prior applications, for preventing the switch blade from being thrown open during short-circuit or other severe conditions, due to the magnetic effect of heavy currents passing in close proximity to the blade. Switches of the general type herein referred to usually comprise a pair of spaced and relatively insulated contact blocks on which are mounted respectively a pivoted switch-blade and a pair of jaw-clips with which the blade contacts when the switch is closed. The blade may be in one or more parts, according to the size of the switch and the preference of the designer. In a double-throw switch, there is an addi tional contact-block, insulated relatively to the other two, and provided with a pair of jaw-clips to receive the switch blade when the switch is in the second of its two circuitclosing positions. There are a number of varieties of these switches, such as doubleand triple-pole switches, but it will suflice for the purpose of the present description, to confine the illustrations to a single-pole single-throw switch, it being understood that many if not all of the advantageous features of the present invention are applicable to double-throw, and multiple-pole, and other modifications of the prior-art switching devices.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated at 1 a base or contact-block upon which are mounted the usual jaw-clips 2 adapted to receive the blade 3, which is pivotally supported upon another contact-block (not shown). When the switch is to be opened, the operator inserts in the aperture 7 in the blade 3 the nose 9 of a hook 10 preferably of the general type illustrated in Fig. 12. The guard 18 prevents the operator from inserting the hook too far into the aperture 7. The nose 9 passes readily through the large part 11 of the aperture .7, but is too large to pass through the smaller parts12, 13 of said aperture/ The operator, in order to pull the blade 3 away from the jaw-clips 2 to open the switch, pulls in an upward direction on the hook 10; this causes the hook to enter the upper reduced portion 12 of the aperture 7. At this time, the catch 28 of the latch portion 25 of the pivoted member 16 hooks over the upper edge 31 of the guide member 17 fixed to the blade 3, and the blade 3 is thus held closed against accidental displacement. The coiled spring 32 tends to press the latch or look 25 clockwise. In opening the switch, the operator pulls upward on the hook. This causes the shank 14 of the hook to enter the upper reduced portion 12 of the aperture 7, and in doing so, the shield pbrtion 15 of the pivoted member 16 is forced toward the left, thereby swinging the member 16, and consequently the latch 25, counterclockwise about the bearing-pin 27 against the action of the spring 32, and as a result the catch 28 shifts toward the left -to a position beyond the outer "end of the edge or surface 31. This unlocks the switch and permits the operator to pull the switch blade upward (clockwise) until the switch is entirely open. When the switch is far enough open so that the lower end of the guide 17 is above the catch 28, the coil spring 32 causes the lock 25 to return clockwise to its position of rest, with the portion 26 thereof against the stop surface 35 of the fixed base 19 on which the member 16 is pivotally mounted. The operator can then readily remove the hook 10 from the aperture 7. If, however, the operator attempts to remove the hook from theswitch blade while the catch 28 on the lock 25 engages the guide 17 on the blade 3, he will be unable to do so, because the left edge 30 of the latch 25 is at this time to the left of its position illustrated in Fig. 2, and partially shields or covers the wide part 11 of the aperture 7 to such an extent that no part of the aperture is large enough to permit the nose 9 of the hook 10 to pass through it. The operator is thus unable to remove the hook from the switch blade throughout a predetermined range or portion 0 the movement of the blade, the magnitude of said range depending on the vertical length of the blanketing edge 30, and the length of the guide 17, and the latch surface 34 coiiperating therewith. This range of movement of the blade through which the protective device of the present invention is effective, may be varied to any desired extent: the protective device may be made effective from the circuit-closing position of the blade (illustrated in Fig. 2) to a position considerably beyond the position where contact is actually broken, in order to make sure that any arcing at the contacts is broken prior to disconnection of the handle from the blade; or the protected range may extend only to the point where contact is actually broken; or the covering edge 30 or the guide 17 or the surface 34, or all of them, may be made shorter, with a corresponding reduction of cost, and the protected range of movement will then extend m he closed pOSitin-n of th it h. throughout only part of the angle through which the blade is in contact with the jawclips 2. In closing the switch, the operator cannot move the blade past its position shown in Fig. 3, into its circuit-closing position illustrated in Fig. 2, unless the switch hook 10 ,(Fig. 12) is inserted in the aperture 7, and is being used to move the blade. This is because the lower edge 33 of the guide 17 on the blade strikes against the squared upper surface 39 of the latch 25 and prevents further downward movement of the blade unless and until the latch 25 is rotated counterclockwise; this counterclockwise rotation of the latch 25 is effected by the action of the hook 10 upon the guide 15 and its upward extension 23, provided the hook is in the aperture -7 of the switch blade.

'The conditions attendant upon an attempt by the operator to close the switch without having the hook in the aperture 7 are shown in Fig. 3. The corresponding conditions resulting when the hook is properly within the aperture are shown in Fig. 4, where it will be seen that the hook has pressed against the extension 23 of the guide 15 and has forced the guide and with it the latch 25, counterclockwise to a position where the squared upper surface 39 of the latch clears the lower edge 33 of the guide 17 so that the switch blade may then be readily forced,

downward into its circuit-closing position shown in Fig. 2. through this range, additional protection is afforded, in that the operator cannot remove the hook until the switch is substantially or entirely closed and is locked in this closed position: as the switch blade 3 approaches the jaw-clips 2 in closing, the

In closing the switch guide surface 23 causes the latch 25 to rov tate counterclockwise, as above indicated,

against the action of the spring 32; during the insuing downward movement of the blade 3, the catch rides along the guide 17,

causing the covering part 30 of the latch 25 to reduce the size of the aperture 7 su'fii- 'ciently to prevent removal of the hook; when the switch reaches its circuit-closing position, illustrated in Fig. 2, the spring 32 swings the catch 28 clockwise until said catch passes over the upper edge 31 of the guide 17, thereby locking the switch in its closed osition and restori the parts to the relative positions indicated in Fig. 2. Since the surface 30 now no longer covers the aperture 7, the hook maybe readily removed therefrom, The stop surfaces 26 and 35, for limiting-the. clockwise rotation of the'pivoted member 16, are located below,- the plane of the bearing-pin 27, thereby economizing in the space needed above the pin 27 and simplifying the construction of the parts 19 and 21 as compared with the corresponding parts in my co-pending ap-" -plication, Serial Number 81,415. The pin 27 may be located in an even lower horizontal plane if desired; and by having the portions of the base 19 which inclose the pivoted member 16 at the sides fit fairly snugly although allowing free movement, practl cally any desired degree of'steadiness of the member 16 may be attained Without requiring a close fit at the bearing-pin 27. This rigidity is advantageous especially in the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 herein, wherein the blade extension 21 may first strike the pivoted member 16 before the blade 3 itself has touched the jaw-clips 2. Thus the pivoted member 16 may act as a guide for the blade in case the switch is somewhat out of alinement. On account of this guiding function of the member 16, it is preferable to bevel the upper ends of the parts 23 and 25 and the edges of the vertical slot 22 in the extension 21 so that the guiding action will be effective over as wide a lateral range as practicable.

The proportioning of parts, particularly the shape of the aperture 7, is illustrated somewhat conventionally, since the invention is not limited to any particular shape of said aperture, nor indeed to any specific arrangement or disposition of partsnot inconsistent with the present disclosure. The construction is illustrated in connection with a blade constructed of a single piece, but would be equally applicable to a blade constructed of two or more parts; and it may be generally stated, 'atthis point, that many if not all of the several embodiments of the invention herein illustrated may be utilized with each of the various types of switches known in the art.

In Figs. 1 to 7, thepivoted member 16 enters a vertical slot in the apertured extension 21 of the blade 3. In the modifica= tion illustrated in Fig. 8, this relative ar rangement is reversed by having the apertured extension of the blade 3 enter a vertical slot in the pivoted member 16, and the lock or latch carrying the catch 28 takes the form of a pair of upstanding ears. I

In Fig. 5, the latch 25 is provided with anupper extension 29, so located and proportioned that it partially covers the aperture 7 simultaneously with the clockwise rotation of the latch 25 at the time the hook 10 strikes against the part 22 during the closing movement of the blade. This insures a partial covering of the aperture from this position of the blade continuously through the remainder of the closing movement, and prevents the operator from removing the hook until the blade is closed and locked. This modification is a refinement of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and is intended to be used in cases where the additional cost would be balanced by the additional security of operation attained. v

In Fig. 6, the guide surface 17 is shown as straight instead of as in the form of an arc of a circle whose center is the axis of the blade 3; a straight guiding surface will in many cases be found sufficiently accurate and effective for its purpose, and is somewhat less expensive to construct. The upper extension 29 in thisfigure is shorter than in Fig. 5, providing a shorter protectedrange of movement of'the blade 3, with decreased construction cost.

In Fig. .7, the pivoted member is so mounted that it rotates clockwise instead of counterclockwise into unlocking position. Figs. 8 and 9 likewise illustrate locks opening in a clockwise direction, but operating.

in a somewhat different way than in the preceding figures. 9, any tendency of the blade to buckle or open during'emergency conditions, as in a short-circuit, results in an increased locking force at the latch 25. Y

In Fig. .10,the pivoted member is shown as mounted on the blade- The operation of this embodiment of the invention will be clear from the preceding description, and

need not be further elaborated.

The application of the invention to a double-throw switch is shown in Fig. 11; the pivoted member 16 is duplicated to providea protected range of movement of the blade 3 at both ends of its double throw or stroke.

The pivoted member 16 may be attached at the near or hinge side of the jaw-clips 2, instead of at the far side, as shown in Figs. 1 to 11, in which case the guide mem-v ber 17 would preferably be offset with respect; to the longitudinal axis of theblade.

This arrangement would effect a savingv in' size of the several parts, for a given pro In these Figs. 7, 8 andtected angular travel of the blade 3, because the parts would be located nearer the hinge of the blade.

The guide 17 pivoted member 16, pedestal 19 therefor, and the bearing-pin 27 for said pivoted member may be made of any suitable material consistent with mechanical strength and cheapness. In fact, the guide 17 may be simply a surface formed on the blade 3 itself, instead of being on a part riveted to the blade, as in the drawings herewith.

The hook 10 illustrated in Fig. 12 comprises preferably a wooden or other insulating pole or handle 40, upon which is fitted a ferrule 41 of bronze or other suitable material. This ferrule extends kmgitudinally of the handle 40 for a short distance, and then transversely, and the transverse or lateral shank 1 10f the ferrule terminates in a nose 9 somewhat larger than the shank but smaller than the aperture 7 of the switch with which the hook is to be used; the shank is preferably provided with a guard 18 larger than the aperture 7, so that the hook cannot be inserted too far in said aperture.

From the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved, and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes might be made in the above construction, and as the above invention'might be embodied in different forms, it is intended that all matter set forth in the above description and in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense Having thus revealed my invention, I desire to claim as new and secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. An electric switch combining a blade having a bracket substantially in the plane of the blade, said bracket being apertured to receive a hook, contact clips cooperating with said blade, a lock for holding the switch closed, means whereby the operation of the hook in the aperture in bladeopening direction releases the lock to permit the opening of the switch, and means whereby the lock normally prevents the closing of the switch unless the hook is in the aperture.

2. An electric switch combining a blade having a bracket substantially in the plane of the blade, said bracket being apertured to receive an operating implement, means normally preventing the closing of the blade beyond a predetermined point, and means operated by said implement when in said aperture for moving said first means out of motion-preventing position and permitting the closing of the blade.

3. An electric switch comprising a pair of posts, a switch blade pivotally connected to one of the posts, a lock pivotally secured to the other post, switch jaws adjacent said look, a shouldered member secured to the blade, said member being at such distance from the pivotof the blade as to cause the lock to coact with the member when the blade is closed, said blade having an aperture to be engaged by an operating implement, and the lock having a part overlapping the aperture; and means normally preventing the closing of the switch unless the implement is in the aperture.

4. An electric switch combining a blade having a bracket substantially in the plane of the blade, said bracket being apertured to receive an operating implement, means for preventing the opening of the switch, means normally preventing the closing of the switch, and means whereby the operation of the implement within said aperture in blade opening direction releases said first means to permit the opening of the switch, and releases said second means to permit the closing of the switch.

5. An electric switch combining a blade, a projection thereon apertured to receive an operating implement, means normally preventing the clo'sing of the switch beyond a predetermined point unless the implement is in the aperture, and means for covering the aperture throughout a portion of the movement of the blade, to an extent suflicient to prevent the removal of the implement from said aperture throughout said portion. said means enabling the removal of said implement from said aperture when the blade is outside said portion.

6. An electric switch combining a blade, a projection thereon apertured to receive an operating implement, means normally preventing the closing of the switch beyond a predetermined point, contact clips cooperating with said blade throughout'a portion of the mpvement of the blade, and means for preventing removal of the implement from the blade throughout a portion of the movement of the blade greater than the range of movement of the blade during which the blade contacts with said clips, said means enabling the removal of said'implement from said aperture when the blade is outside said portion.

7.'An electric switch combining a blade, a projection thereon apertured to receive an operating implement, means normally preventing the closing of the blade beyond a predetermined point, means operated by the implement when in the aperture torelease said first means to permit the closing of the blade, a fixed contact-block, contact means thereon cooperating with said blade, means for locking the blade in its circuitclosing position, and means operated by the implement when in the aperture to reaperture,

blade is out of engagement with said first means.

8. An electric switch combining a blade member, a projection thereon having an aperture to receive a hook provided with a shank and a nose, fixed contact means cooperating with .said blade member, means for covering said aperture throughout a portion of the movement of the blade member, to reduce said aperture to a size larger than said shank but smaller than said nose, to prevent removal of said hook from said aperture throughout said portion of the movement of the blade-'member, said means enabling the removal of said implement from said aperture when the blade is outside said portion, means normally preventing the closing of the switch beyond a predetermined point, and means whereby the operation of the hook within the aperture releases said last-named means to permit the closing of the switch. I

9. A locking device combining an apertured member adapted to be secured to a switch blade to receive an operating implement, a latch adapted to be pivotally secured to a point adjacent the contact means cooperating with the blade, said latch being spring-pressed against said ape-rtured member when the switch is closed, to lock the switch in its closed position, and being likewise spring-pressed into such a position when the switch is open as normally to prevent the closing of the switch; the latch also includin means whereby the implement when wlthin the aperture serves to swing the latch into unlocking position to permit the opening of the switch and likewise swings the latch into unlocking position to permit the closing of the switch.

10. An electric switch combining a blade, an extension on said blade having an aperture to receive a hook provided with a shank and a nose, and having a slot, fixed contact means cooperating with said blade, a member extending through said slot throughout a portion of the movement of the blade and locking said blade in its circuit-closin position, and means operated by said hpo for moving said member to release said lock and simultaneously blanket said aperture to reduce said aperture to a size larger than said shank but smaller than said nose, to prevent removal of said hook from said said member maintaining said blanketing position throughout a predetermined range of the movement of the blade, said member having a part cooperating with the blade to prevent the closing of the blade unless the hook is in the aperture.

11. An electric switch combining a blade having a transverse aperture to receive a hook provided with a shank and a nose, and longitudinally slotted, fixed contact means cooperating with said blade to close a circuit, a member fixed on said blade, a latch pivotally mounted on said contact means and having a catch extending through said longitudinal slot and cooperating with said member to lock the blade in its circuit-closmg position, means tending to maintain said latch in its locking position, an extension on said latch partially blanketing said aperture, whereby when said hook is inserted in said aperture, the initial movement of the hook in the direction for opening the switch forces said latch away from said member to unlock said blade, and another extension on said latch normally to prevent the closing of the switch beyond a predetermined point unless the hook is in the aperture.

12. An electric switch combining a blade provided with a bracket substantially in the plane of the blade, said bracket being adapted to cooperate with an operating implement, means for locking the switch open, means for locking the switch closed, and means whereby the movement of the implement in cooperation with said bracket causes the unlocking of said first means during the closing movement of the implement to permit the closing of the switch, and causes the unlocking of said second means prior to the opening movement of the blade to permit the opening of the switch.

'13. An electric switch combining a pivoted blade having an aperture to receive a hook provided with a shank and a nose, a fixed contact-block, contact clips mounted thereon to cooperate with said blade to close a circuit, a guide mounted on said blade, a latch pivotally mounted on said contact-block and having a catch cooperating with said guide to lock'the blade in its circuit-closing position, a spring tending to maintain said latchin its locking position, and an extension on said latch partially blanketing said aperture, whereby when said hook is inserted in said aperture, the initial movement of the hook in the direction for opening the switch forces said catch away from said guide to unlock said blade and simultaneously blankets said aperture to an extent sufl'icient to prevent removal of the hook from said aperture, said guide cooperating with said latch to maintain said latch in said blanketing position throughout a predetermined portion of the move,-

' ment of the blade to prevent removal of the hook from said aperture until the blade has been moved through a predetermined angle in its circuit-opening direction of movement, and likewise preventing removal of the hook from said aperture during the closing movement of the switch prior to the completion of the closing movement and the locking of the catch against the guide; said latch having a part cooperating with the blade to prevent the closing of the switch unless the hook is in the aperture.

I 14. An electric switch comprising a pair of posts, a switch blade pivotally connected I the switch unless the implement is in the aperture.

15. A locking device comprising an apertured member adapted to be secured to a switch blade to receive an operating imple-.

ment, a latch adapted to be secured to a point adjacent the contact means cooperating with the blade, said latch being pressed against said apertured member when the switch is closed, to lock the switch closed, and being pressed into such a position when the switch is open as to normally prevent the c lo s irigbf the switch; the latch also including means whereby the implement when within the aperture serves to move the latch to permit the opening of the switch and likewise moves the latch to permit the closing of the switch.

16. An electric switch comprising a blade apertured to receive an operating implement, contact means cooperating with said blade to close the circuit, a member fixed on said blade, a latch mounted on said contact means and cooperating with said member to lock the blade closed, an extension on said latch partially blanketing said aperture, whereby when said implement is inserted in saidaperture .the initial movement of the implement in the direction for opening the switch unlocks said blade, and another extension on said'latch normally to prevent the closing of the switch unless the implement is in the aperture.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

PHILIPv H. CHASE. Witnesses:

DELos G. HAYNES, PAUL M. KLEIN. 

